Device for holding newspapers, magazines, &amp;c., in position.



L. W. RICE.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, &c., m POS'ITION.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEETL L. w. RICE. DEVICE FOR HOLDING NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES,&c., IN- POSITION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1915. 1,214,076.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- LOUIS W. RICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, &c., IN POSITION.

Application filed February 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs WV. RICE, a citizen of the United States, anda residentof the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Holding Newspapers,Magazines, &c., in Position, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient, neat, andeffective device for holding newspapers, magazines and the like, ofvarying sizes, in position to be read at the table, the device beingcapable of a variety of adjustments and being foldable into compact formwhen not in use.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in use; Fig. 2 is afragmentary front elevation of the device folded; Fig. 3 is a plan viewlike Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevation, showing various adjustments infull and broken lines; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 ofFig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The device embodies a supporting base 1 adapted to rest on the table andcapable of supporting the holding arms and the weight of the paper ormagazine without danger of overturning. As illustrated, this supportingbase is in the form of a domed disk, which may have a felt facing 2 onthe under side. Rising from the center of the support is a short post 3,through which passes a horizontal member or bar 4.

It is customary with devices of a nature akin to mine to support thenewspaper-holding frame on a long or high pedestal, which isobjectionable because it renders the device topheavy and easilyoverturned or upset when the newspaper-holder is placed on a table.Also, when the newspaper-holder embodying such high pedestal is placedon a table, the magazine or newspaper held by the holder is at such ahigh point that the eyes of the reader seated at the table have to beraised to read the newspaper, which is uncomfortable. My device aims toremedy these defects, and, with these ends in view, the post 3 is, asshown, very short or low, so that the bar 4 is supported at but a shortdistance above the dining-table on which the holder may be placed, andthe eyes of the reader seated at the table do not have to be raised inreading the paper. In addition,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

Serial No. 6,768.

the post 3 being very low, the device is not topheavy and easilyoverturned or upset. The post 3 is provided with a threaded lower end,as shown in Fig. 5, which is screwed into the base 1, so that the postmay be removed, when desired, as for packing in a small compass forpurpose of shipment or storage. Flat arms 5, carrying hooks 6, arepivoted to the remote ends of the bar, so as to be capable of beingraised and lowered, and are preferably inclined rearward in order tosupport the reading matter at a comfortable angle for reading. In thepreferred construction shown, the arms are placed behind the bar 4, andtheir lower extremities are bent to form the hooks 6, which are disposedin front of the bar, the bar and arms being united by rivet pivots 7.Flat extension pieces 8, similar to the arms, are disposed with theirlower ends overlapping behind the upper ends of the arms and unitedthereto by pivots 9. The extension pieces are approximately the lengthof the arms, or not substantially longer, and the arms are about halfthe length of the bar, or somewhat less, so that the parts when foldedare included within the length of the bar.

The folded condition of the device is represented in Figs. 2 and 3,where it will be seen that, owing to the manner of arranging andpivoting the parts, the arms and extension pieces fold down compactlyand without interference into what may be generally termed the plane ofthe bar, the arms and extension pieces then extending in reversedirections, that is to say, the arms pointing toward each other and theextension pieces away from each other. In this folded condition thehooks 6 are turned inward toward each other.

When the device is opened the arms 5 are preferably disposed upright,and the extension pieces may be disposed in line therewith, as shown inFig. 1. Or, as represented in Fig. 4, the extension pieces may be turnedhorizontally inward, so as to afiord a line of support across the backof the article being held. This is desirable, for example, when ordinarymagazines are to be supported. Certain other of the possible adjustmentsare shown. The one in which the extension pieces converge upwardly isespecially useful in connection with magazines such as the SaturdayEvening Post, where the height of the magazine renders it desirable forthe supports to extend well up on the back, and at the same time thetendency of the magazine to close and slip rearwardly between thesupports must be counteracted by causing the extension pieces toapproach bar, and extension pieces pivotally' connected at one end ofeach with the upper ends of said arms and their opposite ends beingfree, whereby the extension pieces may be disposed vertically or turnedeither inward or outward, the arms and extension pieces being adapted tofold alongside the crosspiece, the arms then extending inward from theirsupporting pivots toward the post, and

the extension pieces extending outward from.

the inner ends of the arms, the arms and extensions inclining rearwardfrom the crosspiece.

Dated, February 3rd, 1915.

LOUIS W. RICE.

Witnesses:

G. H. Esrnx, CLARENCE G. GALsToN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

